Elderly Woman Missing After NH House Explosion

DANVILLE, N.H. (CBS) – Authorities are searching the scene of a house explosion for a missing 88-year-old woman.

Meals on Wheels worker Ron Metcalfe told WBZ-TV he was delivering a meal to the woman at her Pine Street home Monday afternoon when he heard an explosion inside.

“I went in the house as I normally do and I put the meal on the dining room table, which was on this left corner of the house. I called for her and she normally sits in a chair on the right hand side. I looked and she wasn’t there,” Metcalfe said. “All of a sudden the whole house exploded. I was in the house when it exploded. Thank God I hadn’t walked into that far room because I wouldn’t be standing here now. That’s where the flames came out. A big ball of flames blew that front wall out.”

Metcalfe said he tried to find the woman but she didn’t answer. He said he has delivered meals to the woman for the last 18 months.

“I felt the heat in my face and I knew I had to get the hell out of there. I backed out the door and the little dog came with me,” he said. “She lived here by herself. She is in there. They couldn’t find her. Unfortunately, I’m sure she’s not alive.”

There’s extensive damage to the house.

This house exploded in Danville, NH Monday. (Paul Burton/WBZ)

There’s no word on the cause of the explosion. Metcalfe said he didn’t smell anything strange when he entered the home.